Organic Baby Food - Why Should You Be Using It?
JAN
3
2008
We all want to make sure that our children eat healthy, and there are more organic options than ever before. Why organic? The short answer is it is better for our bodies and the earth. The less processing, chemicals, and pesticides our food comes into contact with, the better! In ready made varieties, there are three options to choose from: frozen, fresh, and jarred. All three choices have different benefits. Jarred baby food is the most readily available, and this option is the most convenient because no refrigeration is necessary, making it easy to use on-the-go and easy to keep on hand.
Popular (and readily available) organic jarred varieties include Gerber and Earth’s Best. Frozen organic baby food is another good option. Because it is frozen, it retains nutrients better than jarred and offers a “fresher” taste. Frozen options include Happy Baby, Plum Organics, and Tasty Baby. The last choice in ready made varieties is fresh- you usually find this kind in the refrigerated section in your local grocery store. Organic fresh varieties offer the best nutritional value and freshest taste. Fresh varieties include Homemade Baby, and Bohemian Baby (they ship within the US).
The other choice for organic baby food is to make it yourself. There are tons of baby food cookbooks to choose from- check out your local library so you can see if this option is for you before you invest in purchasing. There are also some great sites like Wholesome Baby Food that give directions on how to make your own with recipes. am currently trying several varieties on my little girl- she just started on solids a few weeks ago and we are slowly trying different varieties/ flavors. No matter what variety you choose to feed your little ones, offer an array of fruits and vegetables in varying flavors/ combinations. There are many informative articles about organic food (including some of the sites linked above), that you can check out and make an informed decision to see if organic is the right choice for your family. So far choosing organic has not been a big issue- my local grocery store carries several varieties so even if I do not have time to make a special trip to our organic grocer, I still have easy access to organic choices.
The Mommy said on January 3rd, 2008:
Great article! We use organic baby food and love it. I have also made my own. Although it is time consuming, the taste is above and beyond the jarred and frozen kinds (I have tried them all). Any other moms have tips?
I used a Magic Bullet to puree everything. It was great. Then I froze the food in ice cube trays and kept it in zip lock bags. I also kept enough of it in the fridge for the rest of the week. Another great idea is to puree whatever you are having for dinner to give the baby a lot of variety.
Organic baby food why should you be using it - Organic Baby Food - Why Should You Be Using It? said on January 3rd, 2008:
[...] your local library so you can see if this option is for you before you invest in purchasing. … Read more… | Suggest Tags: Using Tackling the Toxins Look for : Tackling Remember what Gandhi said, [...]
Evie said on January 4th, 2008:
I can’t say enough good things about cooking organically for our kids, though it does take some time if you’re already stretched thin in life with kids, jobs and general household responsibilities.
I am amazed that pediatricians won’t take a stand for organic food. Most of them say “well, there isn’t evidence that organic is better for you”. So in part, what they’re inferring is: antibiotics, hormones & pesticides ARE good for you? It makes me wonder if big drug companies are paying off all pediatricians!
I know i am not the only one who asks the questions like, why are our children overweight? why are there epidemic proportions of diabetes? why are there more allergies to wheat, gluten, and peanuts? why are more people seemingly being diagnosed with cancer or other life threatening illnesses?
To help parents out, I started a business 5 years ago called Evie’s Organic Edibles. I provide children with homemade, organic meals, delivered to their doorstep.
Here’s how: Each week, I prepare a rather extensive list of menu items and offer them for sale online ( http://www.EviesOrganicEdibles.com ). All my food is made fresh, packaged in vacuum sealed bags, frozen and delivered (or shipped) to families homes. My menu ranges from pureed peas and butternut squash to Turkey meatloaf and vegetable casseroles. About 90% of my ingredients are organic and what isn’t organic, is natural.
I know it is more difficult to find organic produce etc. at some markets…but tell the store manager you want it. Find a co-op that offers local produce or a farmer’s market. Order organic poultry and meat online (they ship frozen) and make a commitment to yourself (and family) to do the healthy thing.
Here’s to good health this coming year.
The Mommy said on January 4th, 2008:
Evie,
Thank you so much for sharing! Great tips. I will be checking out your site today.
Sam
Wendy said on January 4th, 2008:
We have been eating organic for about 5 years, and now I can find nearly everything organic in our area. I made my own baby food and bought organic in jars when we were on the go.
My son still got cancer after eating organic all of his life (he is 2 1/2), but I still believe that it is better the non-organic stuff out there. He has had a fairly easy time with chemo, and I think it is because his body is better able to tolerate toxins when the food that goes in is building him up.
Scott said on January 5th, 2008:
You may want to take a look at a new book, “The ABC’s of Fruits & Vegetables and Beyond”. Educators, parents (and grandparents for that matter) will be very interested in the book, as it helps mold kid’s attitudes toward these important foods from the day they start learning the alphabet. Out only six months, it has already been bought in bulk by a number of educational organizations and recommended by leading nutritionists. From best selling food writer David Goldbeck and Jim Hensen writer Steve Charney. More at HealthyHighways.com
JHS said on January 12th, 2008:
THANKS for participating in the Carnival of Family Life, hosted this week by Karen at Write from Karen!
The Carnival will be live on Monday, January 14, 2008, so be sure to stop by and peruse all the excellent submissions included this week!
Considered hosting the Carnival? Stop by Colloquium, check out the schedule and drop me a note, telling me which week you are interested in hosting!
The Mommy Blog Carnival Ed. #1 » the so called me said on January 15th, 2008:
[...] presents Organic Baby Food - Why Should You Be Using It? posted at Mommy [...]
Kate said on January 15th, 2008:
I find it much easier and cheaper to make my own organic babyfood on a day off and freeze batches.
Moms’ Blogging Carnival - January 21 Edition! « angelawd said on January 20th, 2008:
[...] presents Organic Baby Food - Why Should You Be Using It? posted at Mommy [...]
angelawd - » Moms’ Blogging Carnival - January 21 Edition! said on March 19th, 2009:
[...] presents Organic Baby Food - Why Should You Be Using It? posted at Mommy [...]
Barfi said on June 30th, 2010:
If you are Indian, or have any real appreciation of Indian cuisine, this is not the place for you. We ordered kababs, chicken curry, saag paneer, and naans. The kabas were alright, but the chicken curry and saag paneer were barely edible. The saag paneer in particular had no taste, was floating in oil, and no flavor whatsoever. We didn’t eat more than a bite of it, and the rest went in the garbage. What a waste! Overall, our experience was terrible, and we will not be visiting again.